Panetta: Former SEAL's book on bin Laden raid jeopardizes operations; writer should be punished

The tell-all book by a former Navy SEAL on the Osama bin Laden raid raises questions as to whether there ever was a plan other than executing the terrorist leader on sight. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.

By NBC News staff and wire services

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said revelations in a book written by a retired Navy SEAL on the raid that killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden could put future operations in jeopardy and suggested that the writer should be punished for writing the best-seller.

In an interview with CBS News on Tuesday, Panetta was asked if he thinks the writer should be prosecuted. "I think we have to take steps to make clear to him and to the American people that we're not going to accept this kind of behavior," Panetta said.

Panetta was referring to "No Easy Day," the newly published account of the raid that led to bin Laden's killing in May 2011 in Pakistan. The book was written by a retired SEAL under the pseudonym of Mark 0wen. The author has denied the book contained any information that could adversely affect national security.

Panetta said that if the Defense Department failed to take any action in response to the book, "then everybody else who pledges to ensure that that doesn't happen is going to get the long signal, that somehow they can do it without any penalty to be paid."

Asked if the revelations could put future such operations at risk, Panetta said, "I think when someone who signs an obligation that he will not reveal the secrets of this kind of operation, and then does that and doesn't abide by the rules, that when he reveals that kind of information, it does indeed jeopardize operations and the lives of others that are involved in those operations."

The secretary stopped short of accusing the author of revealing classified information, but said Pentagon officials "are currently reviewing that book to determine exactly, you know, what is classified and what isn't, and where those lines are."

Panetta said the book, which went on sale this week, raises troubling national security questions. The book is the top seller on online retailer Amazon.com.